, 1887-05-25
TIE FOOL ROOM.

mat no nau hIaTIcu OUT Win Iulr pros
poets, physically, but that having, while
quite young, been hooked by a steer,
kicked by an old family horse-the most
dangerous Of all creatures-and finally
run over by a wood wagon, he settled
down into al ordinary cripple, with one
leg that was much too short and with one
arm that was withered like a wilted polk
stalk Little Zanby had, from his earliest
infancy, lived in Cypress grove, where
every one wns acquainted with the hum
OF his industrious old mothers spinning
wheel. The old woman knew that her
son was going to be a statesman. Had he
been strong and able to work, she would
have doubtless INDUCED no such hope, but
as 1t was she seemed to think that states
manship was about all that was left for
him. The school teacher once had the ex-
treme hardihood to tell her that he did not
think 1t was Of much use to send the boy
to school, adding that 1t was cruel to tax
h little mind the child had. The old
woman was putting a fresh "shuck'' on
the spindle of her wheel at the time. She
turned from her work, which was indeed
a remarkable attention for her TO bestow
on any one, looked at the teacher from
head TO foot, and said:
NJ Scroggins, 1 see Init all the fools
amt dead yit."
my dear madam
Don't dear madam me. l see how 1t
Is. You air all Jealous o. Zanby. Oh,
you neenter laugh, o great big lubberly
goo~d-fur-nothin' thing. This very mint
you ought to be out in the woods splittin'
rails, stead o. maxim your Twin by settin'
round a house. You'll never be a states
man, Mr.. Scroggins, never while breath's
In that good fur nothin' body o. yourn.
Git outen my house-gitt'
When the boy came home she took him
into nm inner chamber, a dark room
whittier she always went to pour out her
grief, and wept over him.
About the time Zanby arrived at the age
Of IL years., q change came upon him.
Despite his infirmities, he had ever main
tained n cheerfulness that was the wonder
of sound people, but he suddenly became
gloomy. When some one spoke to his
mother with regard to 1t, she replied:
Its puffeckly nachul. You KANT ex-
pect a boy that's goin' to be a statesman
to allus have the simple grins. Jes let
him alone, an he'll come out all right"
Yes" rejoined the %neighbor, ''but
this mornin' l seed him settin' on the
bank O. the branch cryin' fit ter kill
hisse'f."
what would you expect a statesman
to dor Allus gigglei Madam, you jis'
tend TO yore business an III try ter
tend to mine"
"oh, 1t Amt that l am tryin' to meddlr
with yore business, madam; it's bec8 use
we air all interested in little Zanby. We
air all 90 ulster seein' him In the sun that
1t sorter posters us ter see him In the
shade
wall, that neenter bother you none.
That child is comm outen the kinks faster
than you ever seed n pusson. WY, you
oughter hear him talk in his sleep. He
talks like a preacher"
The old woman, though she treated the
matter lightly, was deeply troubled, md
when little Zanby came home she studied
his face closely.
'Zanby, air yer well, my chiIe'" Ehe
asked.
"Yessum."
"As well rs you wanter bey'
"Wel ez l ken be-"
"How SOY"
IVY, as well IA a sore cripple ken be- 4"
She had never before heard him speak
OF his afliction; she had never heard him
make n remark so serious, and her chin
quivered as she gazed upon him.
~ wuz n fool all my life till the other
day." he said. Now I've got some
sense, " he added, after n slight pause.
What have you learnt That's neHf'
she asked
Learnt that I've allus been a fool, i
tell you. I've been a sort o. a butterfly,
but now I'm n hornet"
She looked at him In astonishment.
"Zanby, / Know now that you KANT help
bein' q statesman"
Statesman, the devilr'
"Mussyful heavens, chile, your-
That's all right, mother, " Zanby broke
IN. 1--WE hearn about TINT all my life,
and when 1 wuz n fool / paid attention 70
a. nnt Iual on IL fnr I rra h1gnl 49,. l-%
ken see now. 1 know you air surprised to
see that / nin't no longer n fool"
The old woman burst into tears. He put
his withered arm about her neck.
Thar" he said, don't cry thiser way.
You oughter be glad that / ain't no longer
SIGH a fool, ever II l don't laugh m try
ter dance"
She dried her eyes, and, though sorrow,
ing deeply, could not help but admire the
new expression which the hitherto simple
boy had found.
'Zanby," she said, tenderly, holding his
withered arm, ''ef yore eyes mir opened,
as you say, an ef you air so much smarter
than you ulster be, how ken you hep bein'
a great manih
Mother, you mustn't talk to me thater
way any more. My mind is list as badly
crippled as my body, an 1t amt nachul
thatI ken ever amount to anything"
Her hopes of his coming greatness, and
her never ending talk Of the time when he
should be recognized as a leader, con,
stituted her only pleasure, and now, to
be robbed of 1t, brought n fresh dow OF
tears.
Thar, now, mother, don't cry. It's
better ter be miserable with some little
sense than ter be n fool an be ha 3py."
but, my son." said the old woman,
~endeavoring to be calm, you amt told
me what has brought about this terrible
change'"
"No, an I reckon I'd better keep It tel
myself. 1t KANT be he'ped-thar amt
nc earthly cure for it,"
But you mout tell yore pore ole
mother
Thar, now, don't cry No, l don't
want ter go in thar"
She had made a motion ns though she
would draw him into the dark room. 81
uoolt, G.-z.~.-ll. . III 81